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National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998)

Chapter 4 : Use of Water

Part 3 : Existing lawful water uses

33. Declaration of water use as existing lawful water use

 

(1) A person may apply to a responsible authority to have a water use which is not one contemplated in section 32(1)(a), declared to be an existing lawful water use.

 

(2) A responsible authority may, on its own initiative, declare a water use which is not one contemplated in section 32(1)(a), to be an existing lawful water use.

 

(3) A responsible authority may only make a declaration under subsections (1) and (2) if it is satisfied that the water use—
(a) took place lawfully more than two years before the date of commencement of this Act and was discontinued for good reason; or
(b) had not yet taken place at any time before the date of commencement of this Act but—
(i) would have been lawful had it so taken place; and
(ii) steps towards effecting the use had been taken in good faith before the date of commencement of this Act.

 

(4) Section 41 applies to an application in terms of this section as if the application had been made in terms of that section.